One

"So, what do you think?"My uncle asks as we get out of the car. "Home sweet home for the summer."

Holding my hand up to block the blinding sun, I squint as I look around. Palm trees line the street, the summer air warm against my skin and the overwhelming smell of sea fills my nose. My uncle"s house is right on the beach, so close I can hear the seagulls cry and the waves crash against the shore. "It's… warm?" I say, not really having an opinion yet.

I'm spending the summer in Coral Springs with my uncle. My mom thought it would be a nice break and give me the time I need to decide between a couple of very important opportunities I'm facing that would majorly affect my future. She may have also mentioned that we don't spend much time with her brother John since he's human.

"I know, it's a little different from what you"re used to, but I promise, after a few days, you"re going to love the Coral Springs life." He chuckles as he rounds the car and grabs my bags out of the trunk.

"I don't know about that," I mumble to myself. "I can take those."

My uncle hands me my bags as we head inside the house. It's a nice place with an open floor plan. It's not cluttered, only a few things here and there. And very clean. Looking down at my feet, I remind myself to make sure I'm always wearing something to cover my hooves because they would scuff and dent his nice wood floors.

"So, let me give you the tour," he says as he starts to guide me through the house. "Here's the living room and the kitchen." He points to the rooms I can see from the front door before taking me down the hall. "Here's the bathroom. It's nice and big. I don't take baths, so I had a shower installed. I guess it works out that I'm a big guy too, hey," he jokes, nudging my arm. I give him a small smile and nod. My uncle John is over six feet tall and built like a linebacker, but his personality doesn't fit his looks. It's why I say don't judge a book by its cover, because he's one of the sweetest, soft-spoken human men I've ever met.

He's my mother"s brother and a human like her. He hasn't really been around monsters that much, but I like that he's trying. Taking me in this summer is a big step in doing that. Coral Springs is becoming one of the biggest monster/human mixed towns in the country. Coral Springs University begins welcoming monsters for the first time this fall and will be the first University to do so.

So, I can expect a lot of doe-eyed college students around this summer. Yay.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like being around people, but I haven't had very many good experiences with humans. A lot of them see monsters and think we"re freaks. Add in the fact I'm only a half-breed, part human-part centaur, which made me a punching bag growing up.

Due to my looks, I've never fit in; a normal centaur has four legs, and I have two. Not monster enough for the monsters, and not human enough for the humans. It's why my mother sent me here this summer in hopes of finding a place that will accept both sides. I came here to please her, but I'm still unsure of what I want to do. I guess I can't make any decisions just yet, seeing as I haven't heard back from either of the programs I've applied for. No matter which one I pick, it's going to change my life in a big way.

"And here's your room," he says, bringing me to the last door at the end of the hall. "Mine is across from yours."

I step into the guest room and smile. There"s a king-sized bed and I sigh in relief, knowing I'll at least fit in it. I'm the same height as my uncle, and finding sleeping accommodations hasn't always been easy when traveling.

"I'll let you get settled in. You"re welcome to come and go as you please, but no parties. If you"re going to bring a girl home, please don't do that while I'm here." He grins. "You"re twenty-one, you"re an adult. Let loose and have fun this summer. Just not anything illegal. I don't want to have to bail you out of jail. Your mother will kill me."

"Don't worry." I chuckle. "I don't think you"re going to have to worry about parties and girls with me."

He nods and turns, leaving the room. Looking around, the room is nice. Pale green walls, with carpet and a dark oak, huge ass bed, and dresser. Walking over to the bed, I plop down and lie back, staring at the ceiling. I pass out as soon as I shut my eyes, the exhaustion from traveling catching up with me. Before I know it, he"s calling me for supper.

After we"re done eating, I head out back and hang out on the porch. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to handle these hoodies and sweatpants here. It's a little cooler now that the sun is going down, but I have a feeling it's going to be a hot summer.

Sitting in one of the deck chairs, I take out my cell phone and text my group chat, letting my friends know I'm here and safe.

Not even two seconds later, I'm getting a video call. Grinning, I shake my head and press accept.

"Hey there, man!" Brooks says. "Come on! Show us around."

"There's not much to show," I tell him. "I just got here." But I turn the camera around so that they can see the beach.

"I can't wait to get there." Sawyer sighs wistfully, her feline eyes gleaming. "I wanna feel the sand through my paws."

"Any hot girls?" Flynn chuckles deeply. I'm about to say no when something catches my eye.

A girl is running on the beach, just a small little thing. Can't be more than five feet. Normally, someone running wouldn't be anything that gets my attention, but there's something about her. Her blonde hair is up in a ponytail, bouncing with each step. My eyes run down her body, stopping at her sports bra. I lick my lips, continuing down and stopping where her tight shorts hug her ass. My cock twitches at the sight of her. But it's not her looks that have me captivated, it's the way she stops to catch her breath and pulls out her phone. A second later, she"s smiling as she bursts out into a dance. She's too far away to hear her, but I can tell she's singing whatever song she's listening to.

"Earth to Lucius," Hayes says.

Atlas chuckles. "I think we got our answer."

This pretty little ball of energy continues down the beach and only when she's out of sight do I look back down at my phone.

"What?" I ask, frowning at all of their smug, grinning faces.

"Who's got you all smiley?" Sawyer asks with a giggle.

"No one. I saw something funny." I shrug, but my eyes drift back over to the direction she took off in.

"Mhmm," Sawyer hums, not believing me.

We talk for a little while before I hang up and go to bed early. I'm not sure what I expected the summer to be like, but a part of me is hoping I get to see that jogger again.

* * *

"Lucius, you've been here for two weeks and you've hardly left the house," my uncle says as he takes a seat next to me on the deck.

"I have. I've gone down to the beach a few times," I tell him, taking a drink of my beer.

"Enough to dip your hooves into the water. Come on, it's summer. Live a little."

"I'm not a very social person," I murmur as I look back out at the water. It"s dark, the moonlight shining off it. I can see people laughing and swimming, the sound of music drifting down the beach.

"Nope, I'm not taking that for an answer," he says, plucking the beer from my hand. "Here." He hands me a hundred-dollar bill. "There's a tiki bar just down the way. Go take a walk, have a few drinks, and maybe you will meet some new friends."

"I don't need any more friends. I have enough back home," I say, raising a brow.

"And they aren"t here. So, take this and go." He raises one back.

I look at the money for a moment before sighing and snatching it out of his hand. "Fine, one hour, that's it."

"Just go." He chuckles, clapping me on the back as I stand up.

As soon as I make it a few feet down the beach, I curse at how hard it is to walk with sneakers. Looking around, I don't see anyone near me, so I slip them off and let my hooves sink into the cool sand.

My movements are slow, not eager to get to this bar, but I have to admit, the cool breeze and the scenery are both nice.

The bar comes into view and I quickly put my shoes back on. It's not that I'm ashamed of who I am, but I lived in a town where my monster side isn't something that makes people do a double take. Until now, this town has been known to be primarily human. And as I look around, I'm not seeing any monsters, at least none that are noticeable.

Not that it matters. I'm part monster, but with what I wear, you could never tell.

Even though I have a hat on, I pull my hoodie up and sink into my clothes for comfort.

"You going in, or what?" a girl asks next to me, making me jump. I look down at her as she looks me up and down, an amused grin on her face. "If not, I might have to call the cops. You"re looking a little suspicious."

"Sorry," I grunt, and take the few steps up to the porch. Stepping inside, I see the place is packed with music playing and people chattering.

"Excuse me," someone asks, pushing past me. Not wanting to stand in the way, I head over to the far side of the bar and take an empty seat.

"What can I get you?" a soft, musical voice asks me. My eyes snap up to meet the shimmering blue ones of the girl I saw on the beach.

Since that day, I have sat on the deck every night around the same time, hoping to see her again, but she hasn't been by.

And here she is now, standing before me, asking for my drink order.

"Ahh. Do you need a moment?" she asks, a small smirk on her face.

"Beer," I manage to choke out. "Ah, a beer, please."

"Beer," she repeats, her smile growing. "What kind of beer?"

"Right… ahh… Busch Light."

"Can, bottle, or draft?"

"Bottle please."

"One bottle of Busch Light coming right up."

I stare at her like a fucking creeper as she moves around the back of the bar. She serves a few other people first, smiling at them as she goes.

My head is screaming at me, trying to tell me something. But I have no idea what.

"Here you go," she says, handing me the beer. Reaching out to take it, my fingers brush against hers. She gasps as I grunt, my eyes widening in shock.

This can't be real. This can't be happening? But as my body hums, a euphoric feeling blanketing, I know that this woman, this cute, adorable woman with little space buns on the top of her damn head, is my mate.

I guess I am in for one hell of a summer.